EcoCo LIFE Scotland project

The EcoCo LIFE Scotland project has joined forces with a chemical company, CalaChem, to install a 140m2 biodiverse green roof in a bid to both boost wildlife. The green roof, which has been designed for pollinating insects like bees (Apis) and hoverflies (Syrphidae), has been put in place at CalaChem's Grangemouth site, some 40km north of the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

CalaChem is one of the first Scottish companies to host a green roof dedicated to biodiversity on its site. Almost 60 species of wildflower and grasses, native to the UK, have been planted on the roof. Species of wildflowers were chosen specifically to feed caterpillars and butterflies (Lepidoptera) while red clover (Trifolium pratense)was selected because it provides essential amino acids for foraging bumblebees.

While the roof is to act as a stepping stone for wildlife, allowing the movement and mixing of species across Grangemouth, it will also provide a number of benefits for the building such as better insulation in winter and cooling in summer. It is also expected to reduce noise pollution and increase the lifespan of the roof.

The four-year EcoCo LIFE Scotland project aims to improve ecological coherence by restoring, creating and improving natural habitats and wildlife corridors in Scotland, boosting green infrastructure. In particular, the project aims to improve the quality of the water environment, secure flood management and reduce pollution through, among others, tree planting and the retrofitting of green roofs in agricultural and industrial areas.

The project team is working with local industry to create a network of green roofs and to raise awareness of the importance of these types of roofs for invertebrates and other local and rare wildlife and of how green roofs can benefit the building, and how businesses can support local and rare species including Local Biodiversity Action Plan priority species by stabling local green infrastructure.